Starbucks illegally fired US workers over union, judge rules

Starbucks illegally fired US workers over union, judge rules

Starbucks illegally fired six workers in New York state in a pushback against unions, a US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge has ruled.

According to the judge, the company committed "egregious and widespread" violations of federal labour law at its stores in Buffalo and Rochester.

The coffee company has been ordered to rehire the former employees and compensate those who were affected.

Starbucks responded that its actions were legal and in accordance with its policies.

"We believe the decision and the remedies ordered are inappropriate given the record in this matter and are considering all legal options," Starbucks told the BBC.

Michael A Rosas, a federal administrative law judge, also ordered Starbucks to rehire another worker who he ruled had been illegally forced out of their job in a more than 200-page decision.

Starbucks, according to Mr Rosas, has demonstrated "a general disregard for the employees' fundamental rights" in response to union campaigns.

The judge also stated that the company interrogated and threatened employees and restricted pay discussions.

It also sent high-ranking employees to stores "to more closely supervise, monitor, or create the impression that employees' union activities are being monitored," he said.

The NLRB is an independent federal agency with the authority to protect employees' right to unionise at work.

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Starbucks barista Michael Sanabria in Buffalo said the ruling was "such a massive win for us, and for the labour movement as a whole."

"The decision is the result of months of tireless organising by workers... demanding better working conditions in the face of historical, monumental, and now illegal union-busting," said Michelle Eisen, a barista at another Starbucks in Buffalo.

Despite the firm's opposition, workers at approximately 270 Starbucks locations in the United States voted to join unions last year. Starbucks operates approximately 9,000 company-owned stores in the United States.

Union campaigners have accused the company of stalling at the bargaining table and violating labour laws as it attempts to put an end to the movement.

Starbucks, which has long prided itself on being a progressive, worker-friendly employer, has stated that it respects employees' right to protest.

In recent months the company has raised pay and made other changes in response to the discontent.